Diagnostic value of ultrasonic elastography in benign and malignant thyroid nodules：a Meta-analysis / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasonic elastography (UE) in benign and malignant thyroid nodules by Meta analysis. Methods Computer was used to search China national knowledge infrastructure(CNKI), Wanfang database, and relevant Chinese articles about UE in assessing diagnostic accuracy of benign and malignant thyroid nodules were collected. According to the diagnostic test criteria recommended by Cochrane Screening and Diagnostic Test Group, the literatures were screened and feature information was included in the study. The quality evaluation tool of diagnostic test accuracy(QUADAS-2) was used to assess the quality of the literatures; Meta analysis was performed with Meta-DiSc 1.4 software, and receiver operating characteristic curve(SROC) was drawn. Results According to the key words, two hundred and thirty-one articles were retrieved initially, and finally 16 articles were included after screening; the quality of five articles was grade A; eight was grade B; and three was grade C. Sixteen articles contained 1 325 patients with 1 641 thyroid nodules. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.87 [95%confidence interval (CI): 0.84 - 0.89] and 0.84 (95%CI: 0.82 - 0.86), respectively; the pooled positive and negative likelihood ratios were 5.85 (95%CI:4.47-7.65) and 0.17(95%CI:0.13 - 0.21), respectively; the area under the curve of SROC was 0.93, standard error(SE) =0.01. Conclusion The results of meta-analysis suggest that UE has high value in the diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.